​A new call for projects for energy storage solutions

Great attendance

200 participants (startups, entrepreneurs, institutional clients, students, etc.) were present at the event, which focused on highlighting the vitality of the region’s innovation ecosystem. 33 innovators presented their solutions in a marketplace event that dealt with three themes:

- Energy of tomorrow

- Buildings & comfort

- Local areas and mobility

After a pitch session that included all of the project leaders present, a startup called ATAWEY was selected by a panel of experts from ENGIE and other event partners.

ATAWEY offers a fully integrated solution for operating fleets of hydrogen bikes.

ENGIE’s South West Area delegation will help ATAWEY set up a formal relationship with both local subsidiaries and its network of external partners.

Imagining simple, safe and low-cost energy storage

Then event also included the launch of a call for projects on developing energy storage solutions. Project leaders interested in applying have until January 13th, 2016 to submit their application on the ENGIE Group’s Open Innovation platform.

Successful projects could win:

- Special support in developing business partnerships and operational projects,

- A testing ground for experimenting with and creating full-scale demonstrations of their project in the Aquitaine region,

- A submission to the ENGIE New Ventures Fund investment fund,

- Support services from the Aquitaine Regional Council and the ADI in connection with their local activities.

Developing French Tech at the regional level

Thanks to an agreement signed with French Tech Bordeaux Métropole, ENGIE is in a better position to strengthen its support for young startups in the region, to work with the municipality on smart city issues and to coordinate with local authorities in developing open innovation in the area and on the ground.

Bordeaux was part of the first nine French cities to earn the "French Tech" label in November 2014. The signing of this agreement is another step towards developing the greater South West innovation area, an initiative that the Group is participates in.

Commitments from regional partners

The event’s success relied heavily on the commitment of its partners: the City of Bordeaux, Bordeaux Métropole, the Aquitaine Regional Council, French Tech, Aquitaine Innovation Development (ADI), South West Eco, and Darwin Ecosystème.

About Innovation Day by ENGIE

Launched in November 2014, Innovation Day by ENGIE is an initiative that means to improve energy-related innovation in the local areas via a day-long event in which various stakeholders (startups, local decision-makers) invited by ENGIE come and present their expertise and their expectations regarding one or several themes related to ENGIE’s businesses.

Three Innovation Days by ENGIE have already been held throughout France.

The event will soon be expanded to elsewhere in Europe in 2016.